Moments in Time

"Time", as it is relevant to each of our lives, is something so very elusive in its ability to capture and maintain the literal moments of itself. I suppose this is the very explanation that describes the near frustration of the impossibility of freezing those moments in time that are most precious to us.

Reflecting back on a recent vacation to the Weston Priory Monastery in Vermont, the experience is still so clear in my mind, but so hard to believe that its already over. When I contemplate the moment that I sit in now, writing, trying to describe what I learned over my week stay with the brothers, I can't help but remember the thoughts I was having before I left. Those moments where I questioned and wondered what to expect; those moments of "am I really going to do this"; those moments of excitement and fear of the unknown all at the same time. And in no time at all, I have journeyed from one moment to the next, filling those small individual timeslots with a vast array of experiences, which ultimately all add up to...my life.

Our time here is, I believe, meant to be spent doing the simple things in life, the things that truly matter, the things that give us peace inside, and that make other people happy and bring them joy. Since our time is limited, and of course, each of us does not know quite how limited, I think, as many others have said, we mustn't waste our time worrying about things that are of no value or that provide no benefit to someone else.

After a mere nine days since my return from the Priory, I still hold so many of the memories close to my heart and even more so, in the foreground of my day. I have implemented some of the practices I had witnessed into my day to day activities, as my guarantee in maintaining some sort of similarity of what I experienced then, to what I endure today. I have realized that prayer is of the utmost importance in my day to day life. Prayer brings the peace of Christ inside my soul, prayer helps me focus on what is truly important in life, it reminds me of times of calmness and serenity. Our brothers were proof that a life of consistent prayer, in all that we do, along with the elimination of excessiveness, will bring you so close to the Holy Spirit, you no longer belong to or are slave to this world and its vices and maladies. Your heart, mind and soul belong to Christ, and there is simply no reason to spread yourself anywhere else or for anyone else.

We all must make choices in our lives. We all have desires of what we want our lives to be, what we envision our lives to entail, but until we make a conscious effort to decide, implement and practice these changes, we will be no further ahead than we were last week. It's about understanding the impact that some things have on us in our life. It's about being aware of these impactful experiences, so we can try and understand what direction they may be leading us. It's about putting into practice those things that we know will benefit our lives and those lives around us.

There are many moments that I wish I could freeze in time, as we all do. If for some reason, that is not of my control, I can no longer remember those precious moments, let me always be hopeful that I have tried to capture their essence in my writings.